In 2010, Martin Booker died while in Police custody, and this week, in an unprecedented turn of events for a police brutality case, jurors awarded $4.65 million to his family. Booker was a homeless priest living in Denver who was picked up by authorities and died after being knocked to the ground, piled on by multiple officers, put in a chokehold, and tasered.
We have seen many cases of police brutality, particularly with victims of color, and often the resulting outcry seems to be the only consequence. Officers are too rarely punished, and often allowed to stay at their jobs, with no impediment or change. In this case, we see that the people have spoken up and hopefully this will serve as a warning to those officers who think this sort of behavior is acceptable.
The loss of a life is never something to be celebrated or taken lightly. All we can do is hope and work for change, so that others will not continue to suffer the same fate.
Listen to an segment on Democracy Now! here.
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